Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The three walked together up hill towards his grave. The familiarity of each step was a reminder for her. She realized she was able to find his site blindfolded “Erin? Erin!” Carmen called.
She looked up dazily “Yes?”
“Are you okay? You seem out of it.” Luke said with concern.
Erin shook her head “I’m okay.”
“I was asking you how Brad’s funeral was.” Carmen asked.
She smiled “It was very grand. They did a military type funeral, saluted with a gun show and everything. Joe really pulled everything out for him.” She recalled as if it just happened yesterday.
“It sounds great.” Carmen sighed. They stopped in front of the grave and bowed three times respectfully. Flowers in hand, she bent to her knee and placed it in front of the stone. Sighing, she smiled slowly “Hey you…long time no see.”
“Ah Gor, you remember Carmen don’t you?” Luke bent down next to her as he too gave his set of flowers.
“He’d better.” Carmen joked. She turned to the stone “Who would have guessed that I’d be with Luke, your twin brother. I guess we didn’t have fate.” Lowering her head, she felt a rush of sad emotions wash through her. Looking up at Luke and his smile made her forget everything “But I’ll be okay.”
Luke turned up to Erin “Aren’t you going to say something to Ah Gor?”
Erin smiled “I already did.” She ruffled his hair playfully “Bye kid, I have to go somewhere. You two keep Brad company. I’ll see you at Mia’s later!” Smiling at Carmen, she rushed down the hill to a place she knew too well.
The cab stopped as she let herself out and walked towards the sandy beach. The sky was dark and no sign of the sun around. But it was Thursday, he would be there as he always did. When she heard footsteps behind her, she turned to see him smiling back at her “You’re early.” He said.
“You’re late.” She giggled as her head tilted downwards.
Devin stepped closer and stood next to her, his hands clasped behind his back “No sun today.”
“No.” she sighed.
“But I’m still warm.” He hinted.
Erin turned her head at him “Really?”
He nodded and wrapped an easy arm around her shoulders “What are we doing, Erin?”
She leaned onto his chest comfortably and wrapped both arms around his waist “I’m not sure. But let’s just go with the mood.”
“Until we argue?” he asked and kissed her on the top of her head.
“Let’s not jinx it.” She looked up at him and smiled “And don’t tell the others.” He nodded in agreement as the two stared out into the waters calmly washing up the shores.
***********
Jenna was busy cooking lunch while Ryan and Reina set up the table waiting for Matt to come home. Ryan popped up from behind her “It smells good.”
She grinned happily at the compliment “It should. When’s Matt coming home?”
“Soon!” Reina replied from the dining room.
“How does she do that?!” Jenna hissed. Suddenly, she whipped her head in a circle “This kitchen must be bugged.” She whispered.
Ryan laughed as he leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek “You’re so cute when you get all paranoid.”
“Matt’s home!” Reina announced. She greeted him shortly “Hey, lunch time.” Before he had a chance to settle on the couch, she grabbed his hand and pulled him into the kitchen. Jenna was barely setting out the dishes when the two walked into dining area “Jenna cooked.”
“Of course she did. You couldn’t possibly cook something like this.” Matt teased openly with his fiancé.
“Ah Gor, you sit here.” Ryan pointed to the head of the table.
“Where I normally sit?” he said with raised brows.
“Try the pasta soup.” Jenna poured him a bowl as the three settled into their seats.
Matt tried the soup and made a thumbs up sign to Jenna “This is great.”
“Thanks.” She grinned proudly.
“Jenna’s a great cook. If you want, she’ll come over for dinner once a week or more if you want.” Ryan hinted.
Matt nodded as he enjoyed his soup and began getting his own salad. Jenna was disappointed that he didn’t get the hint. She winked at Reina wildly “Matt, I think—”
“Can you pass the rolls?” he asked Ryan.
Ryan gave him the basket “Gor, I have something—”
“Wow, did you put butter into the batter? The bread is so good.” He commented to Jenna, who smiled and nodded.
“Honey—” Reina began only to be cut off again.
“Can I get more soup please?” he asked her with a smile. She reluctantly took the bowl and shrugged at Jenna helplessly.
“Gor, I wanted to tell you—” Ryan started but when Jenna patted him on the hand, he turned to her.
She leaned in and whispered, “He obviously doesn’t want to hear it.”
“I don’t care.” Ryan turned to Matt firmly “Gor, Jenna and I are dating. There, we’ve been waiting for weeks to tell you that.”
“And?” Matt shrugged carelessly.
“And?” Jenna raised her brows surprisingly “You know?”
He nodded “Well, yeah…Mia told me.”
“Mia!” Jenna hissed, “Damn it.”
Matt laughed with a shaking head “It doesn’t matter how I know. The good news is that I’m happy for you two and wish you the best of luck.”
“Really?” Ryan asked.
“Of course.” He placed a hand on Ryan’s shoulder “You’re my brother, I only want the best for you. I was only teasing you two cause it took so long for you guys to tell me. Sneaking around is not the most righteous thing to do.”
“In other words, he doesn’t want to be the last to know.” Reina translated. They laughed as they began eating quickly. They had a dinner barbeque at Mia and Darren’s home that night.
****************
“Do you see anything?” Mia whispered.
“No, this stupid trailer is in the way.” Darren replied as he shifted his body to the other side of the limo’s window “Are you sure they’re here?”
Mia turned to him with rolled eyes “I was the one that discovered Devin comes here every Thursday. I told Erin about and she pretended not to care, but I know she comes to spy on him.”
Darren eventually gave up as he sat back on the leather seat “Interesting what our lives have become. Sneaking on friends and spying to see if they are secretly dating. I don’t know how I let you talk me into these crazy stuff.”
“Because I’m always right.” Mia pointed out as she hit the chair roughly “Damn it! Stupid trailer. I’m going outside.”
“Mia!” Darren tried to stop her but it was a train wreck waiting to happen. He rushed out after her and spotted her marching onto the empty beach “Mia!” he caught up with her “There’s no one here.”
She searched around the beach and found two people holding hand in hand walking along the beach “Oh yes there is.” She said certainly and ran to the couple “Ah hah!!!” she blocked their ways.
Mia’s face turned to surprised “I’m sorry?” the guy asked.
“Sorry, I thought you were my friend.” Mia apologized. The couple looked at her strangely as they continued on their way. She turned back to Darren, who had his arms crossed and a smug smile “Wipe that grin off your face. I’ll pay you a hundred later.” She passed him without giving him one glance. He laughed as he quickened his steps to catch up with her.
They rode back to the mansion with the barbeque well under way. Mia walked into the kitchen feeling defeated as she picked at the fruit dish “Hey lover.” She nodded slightly to Doug, who was setting up the jello and whip cream as dessert.
“Hey babe.” Doug nodded with a short glance “Where’s the soda?”
“What?” Mia looked at him strangely.
“You said you were going to go out to buy soda, where is it?” he asked.
Darren walked in with a shake of the head “We have a ton in the garage.”
“Then why did you say—” Doug began.
Mia snapped “Shut up dork.” She stomped out to the pool area where the others were.
“Is she on drugs again?” Doug asked Darren “Or just PMS?”
“No, just plain old Mia.” Darren chuckled.
“Just as I thought.” Doug nodded in agreement. He finished the jello and nodded to Darren for help “Hey, no personal feelings?”
He knew what he was talking about “No. It’s cool.”
“Really?” Doug asked in surprise “I thought you would at least get back at Mia for pulling that stunt. You two almost divorced.”
“No, I’m a different person now. I don’t search for ways to get back at her anymore.” Darren assured his friend with a sly grin.
Erin was lying on a lawn chair when Mia blocked her view “Okay, how did you get here so fast? Huh? I know you were at the beach with—” she stopped herself and leaned in to whisper “him…”
“Him, whom?” Erin didn’t bother looking up at her crazy friend.
“You know him whom.” Mia replied, “We followed you.”
“Dear God, how did you pull Darren to go crazy with you?” Erin asked.
“We’re not crazy. I know you two are secretly dating.” Mia looked around like a spy.
“He’s not even here Mia.” Erin pointed out.
“Yeah, well, maybe you two came at different times purposely to throw us off.” Mia analyzed.
Erin sat up and peeled off her sunglasses “Where is your brain when we are working? And why are you so interested in my life?”
“Because I have none!” She whined, “All my friends are hitched or getting married. You’re the only light to my boring life.”
She laughed while patting Mia on the leg “I’m not sure if I feel sorry for you or wonder about the true meaning of our friendship but I assure you nothing is going on.” Erin got up to get some food at the buffet table. She nodded to Jessie “Hey, so how’s work at the hospital?”
“You don’t have to make small talk with me. I know you’re trying to get away from Mia.” Jessie said wisely.
“Just play along, that girl is driving me crazy.” Erin laughed purposely.
Jessie nodded “You can sit with me and Doug.”
Just then Devin arrived with a bag of fruit “Devin’s here!!!” Mia announced as she turned her head to Erin, who ignored her completely “Why thank you for the fruit, Devin!!” She said loudly.
Devin grimaced as her voice raised “Mia, I’m not deaf, I can hear you fine.”
She leered her eyes at him and leaned closer “I’m watching you.” She warned and walked away to mingle with Carmen and Luke who were the earlier ones that arrived “Hi guys.” She greeted.
Luke raised his brows “Perky aren’t we?”
“Hey, didn’t Erin mention that you three were going to visit Brad?” Mia asked nosily. Carmen nodded “Why didn’t you guys come together?”
Luke shrugged “Erin left before we did.”
“Did she say where she was going?!” Mia asked excitedly.
Carmen laughed at the strange girl “No…but we’ll make sure to ask her next time.”
Mia frowned “You guys are useless!” She got up and tried to go after Devin again, who was now by the buffet table. Instead Darren blocked her way. Each time she tried to sidestep him, he was one inch ahead “Honey, this is no time for tango.”
Darren crossed his arms “Actually, I wanted to ask you something.”
The tone in his voice only brought fear to her as she stepped back “Okay…ask.” She said hesitantly. He stepped closer making her more nervous “Do you have to stand so close?”
“What’s wrong? Why are you so jittery?” he tempted.
Mia looked at the giant heated pool to her right “You’re gonna throw me in aren’t you?”
He shook his head with a laugh “Of course not!” she relaxed at his words but didn’t expect to be pushed into the pool the next second. Her head bobbed into the surface of the water while Darren bent on his knees “Oops, I guess I lied.”
Mia nodded “I deserve that.” She put up her hand for him to help her. But when he did, she pulled him head first into the pool. Doug began laughing to the point of tears while the others shook their heads laughing. Mia pulled herself onto the ground wringing out her t-shirt with Doug’s exaggerating laugh. Without warning, she pushed him into the pool.
Just then Jenna, Ryan, Reina and Matt appeared at the patio door “I told you it would be a pool party!” Jenna exclaimed as she ran and hopped into the pool with her cloths on.
“Pool war!!!” Luke exclaimed as he got up and made a cannonball into the pool making a big enough splash to get everyone wet.
Mia shrugged “If you can’t beat em, join em.” She jumped in while waving for the rest to join “Come on!!”
Erin shook her head “You guys have fun.”
“Fine, can you hold this shirt for me?” Jenna peeled off her t-shirt showing off her bathing suit underneath. Erin was close by as she nodded and got up to take the shirt when she saw a shadow coming near her. Rolling away, she turned in time to see Ryan falling into the water. Jenna giggled hysterically “You almost got her.”
Mia shook her head at Ryan “Useless.” She turned to Devin with a wink “Come on.”
“I like being dry.” He assured her.
Luke turned to Carmen while waving hysterically “Come on, it’s warm!” She laughed and gave in too as she stripped down to her bathing suit.
Doug swam to the edge where Jessie sat “Are you going to join us?”
She shook her head “Not really.” He began pushing himself out of the pool when she raised her hand “Okay! I’ll go in.” he laughed as he waited for her to join them.
“Reina! Matt!! Come on!” the hostess yelled.
Matt shook his head “I don’t think so.” Reina raised her brows and abruptly pushed him into the pool before jumping in herself. He poked his head up and wiped his face but managed to laugh, “You’re crazy.”
“Why thank you lieutenant.” She wrapped her arms around his neck playfully.
“Get a room!” Jenna yelled but quickly shut her trap “Sorry Sir!” she saluted and ended up hitting Ryan in the face with the splash of water.
“Party poopers!!” Mia pointed to Erin and Devin who were the last two standing on dry ground.
Devin remained seated eating chicken wings while Erin stood by the pool with her arms tightly crossed “Say what you want, I’m not jumping in.” Just as she finished her words, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her as they fell into the pool together.
The group laughed while Erin and Devin bobbed their heads up “I take it back.” Mia pointed to Erin “One party pooper. You’re cool!” she pushed a thumbs up sign at Devin.
Erin turned to him ready to scold him but it was hard when he was grinning flirtatiously at her “You’re welcome.”
“I wasn’t going to thank you.” Erin replied.
Devin shrugged “Oh well.” She watched as he began to swim away and dunked Jenna’s head into the pool playfully.
Erin looked up to the sky “I’ll be just fine.” She swam into the center to join the others in a friendly game of keep away boxers with Doug’s yellow happy face boxers, he had on speedos. It was nice to have things back to normal.